Shows that the Harris factors of R have psychometric properties similar to those discussed by Kaiser and Caffrey (1965) and Bentler (1968). Specifically it is shown that the Harris factors of R maximize a lower-bound to the reliability of a composite measure derived by Guttman (1945). (Author/RC)

Examines the effects of four parameters on the accuracy of test equating under a relaxed definition of test form equivalence. The four parameters studied were sample size, test form length, test form reliability, and the correlation between true scores of the test forms to be equated. (CK)

The consequences of the assumption that the expected score is equal to the true score are shown and alternatives discussed. (MS)

Tucker, Damarin, and Messick proposed a "base-free" measure of change which involves the computation of residual scores that are uncorrelated with true scores on the pretest. The present note discusses this change measure and demonstrates that properties they attribute to a are, in fact, properties of b. (Author/CTM)

Reliability maximizing weights are related to theoretically specified true score scaling weights to show a constant relationship that is invariant under separate linear tranformations on each variable in the system. Test theoretic relations should be derived for the most general model available and not for unnecessarily constrained models.…

Using a new coefficient, a rescaling of the Bayes risk is examined and a modification of this coefficient is described which yields an index that always has a value between zero and one. (Author/MH)

Proposes formulas for expected true-score measures and reliability of binary items as a function of their Rasch difficulty when the trait (ability) distribution is normal or logistic. Provides an illustrative example for using the proposed formulas. (SLD)

Dynamic generalizations of reliability and validity that will incorporate longitudinal or developmental models, using latent curve analysis, are discussed. A latent curve model formulated to depict change is incorporated into the classical definitions of reliability and validity. The approach is illustrated with sociological and psychological…

This paper argues that: test data are ordinal; latent trait scores are only determined ordinally; and test data are used largely for ordinal purposes. A set of ordinal assumptions is presented, including an ordinal version of local independence. It is concluded that a purely ordinal test theory is possible. (TJH)

Negative coefficients of reliability, sometimes returned by the standard formula for estimation of the internal-consistency reliability, are neither theoretically nor numerically correct. Alternative strategies for test development in this special case are suggested. (Author)

Proposes a new regression correction for the SIBTEST statistical tests (R. Shealy and W. Stout, 1993) that essentially uses a two-segment piecewise linear regression of the true on observed matching subtest scores. A simulation study illustrates the approach. (SLD)

Judge-mediated examinations are defined as those for which expert evaluation (using rubrics) is required to determine correctness, completeness, and reasonability of test-taker responses. The use of multifaceted Rasch modeling has led to improvements in the reliability of scoring such examinations. The establishment of criterion-referenced…

A sequence of simulations was carried out to aid in the diagnosis and interpretation of equating differences found between random and matched (nonrandom) samples for four commonly used equating procedures: (1) Tucker linear observed-score equating; (2) Levine equally reliable linear observed-score equating; (3) equipercentile curvilinear…